EAST Lancashire mums whose babies were born prematurely have hit out at calls to deny intensive care support to those born before 22 weeks.

They said all children should be given a fighting chance after yesterday's controversial announcement.

A panel of experts said it was "extremely" rare for babies born before 22 weeks to survive.

And the Nuffield Council on Bioethics said those born between 22 and 23 weeks had a one per cent chance of survival and it should not be routine practice to admit them to intensive care.

At 23 to 24 weeks, the view of the parents, after a thorough discussion with the healthcare team, should have priority, members said in a report.

Babies born at 25 weeks or later should receive intensive care unless they have an abnormality that means they are unlikely to survive, it said.

But Sandra Lucas, whose 22-year-old daughter Victoria was born at 24 weeks, said: "I think it is terrible.

"The mother has the problem with the child being born early as it is, without added problems.

"I think it would be hard on parents being told they can't have the treatment."

Victoria, who has cerebral palsy and learning difficulties, was one of the lightest babies ever to be born at Queen's Park Hospital, Blackburn at just 1lb 5oz. She stayed in hospital for six months.

Mrs Lucas, 46, of Tintern Crescent, Little Harwood, said: "I don't think you can have guidelines for this because every case is different.

"Any parents in that situation I would tell to fight for the treatment."

And Camille Bates, 24 said she felt lucky that her three-and-a-half year old daughter Hope has grown up healthy after being born at 25 weeks.

Her mum, of Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, said: "I think this is out of order.

"Everybody should be given a chance to at least try because it is someone's baby.

"What I went through was horrific.

"I couldn't hold her for two weeks because she was put straight into an incubator in intensive care."